FAA Taps Drexel to Join Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research Team

May 11, 2015

Even if you haven't had a packaged dropped off via Amazon Prime Air or watched some amazing aerial video footage from a drone-cam, chances are you've seen one of those zippy, remote-controlled fliers categorized as "unmanned aircraft systems." Their growing prevalence in the skies, along with an industry push to fly them higher and farther, is forcing the Federal Aviation Administration to expand its regulatory purview. As a way of addressing technical issues critical to safe and successful integration of unmanned aircrafts into the nation's airspace, the FAA announced the establishment of a National Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Drexel University is one of several core research institutions that will be part of the Center, led by Mississippi State University, alongside dozens of associate research, commercial and government partners.

Researchers from Drexel University's School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems and College of Computing & Informatics are among the group of experts selected to advise the FAA on rules for the commercial operation of unmanned aerial vehicles. Drexel's contributions to the Center will focus on the challenges faced by air traffic controllers, pilots and operators of unmanned aircraft systemsócategorized as "human factors" by the Center.